Aw shucks,guys......there's a little more to the story than what you've been told.
Once I offered to loan the book, I took it down and read the personal note that Mike had written me inside. Also, it was number 25, which is my PBS Life Member number. Knowing the post office like I do, there's always better than half a chance that the book would get lost or destroyed and I didn't want that to happen even by accident.
I couldn't go back on my word, so I did the only thing I could do :-)
That's my story and I'm stickin to it.